Shoe-stretcher.



PATENTED MA Y'28, 1907.

N. A; LYBBGK. SHOE STRBTGHBR. Arrmommn FILED $22121. 1906.

SHINOTO NORRIS pzrsa NILS A. LYBEGK, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOEQSTRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1907.

Application filed September 21, 1906. Serial No. 335,666.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NILS A. LYBEoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

Nowadays shoes are universally made in factories according to standard sizes, shapes and lasts. It frequently happens that persons have tender, sore or callous spots upon the foot, thereby precluding the wearing of a close fitting shoe without much suflering and inconvenience. To overcome this difliculty the shoe is stretched at the point corresponding to the tender or callous place upon the foot so as not to exert painful pressure thereon.

The present invention provides a novel device by means of which the shoe can be quickly,convenientlyandeffectivelystretched at therequired point without stretching or disturbing the material adjacent to and surrounding the spot to be expanded to provide the fullness whereby the shoe may be worn with ease and comfort.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foi'jeffecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departin from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe stretcher embodying the invention, showing the manner of use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stretcher. Fig. 3 is a side view of the stretcher, parts being broken away, to show more clearly'the relative arrangement and construction of the several elements.

Corresponding and like parts are referred slot or opening extended lengthwise thereof and opening through one end so as to form in effect arms 2 and 3. A handle 4. projects from the closed end of the frame and curves in the direction of its length and is broadened transversely so as to afiord a convenient and substantial grip. The lower arm 2 curves longitudinally and is provided at its outer end with a clamp member 5 which is preferably of rounded form and cup-shape so as to withstand the pressure exerted when the stretcher is in operation. The arms 2jiand 3 are slightly tapered and are sufficiently stout at their juncture and adjacent theretojjito withstand a great degree of strain, thereby resulting in the provislon of a device which is durable and lasting. The outer end of the arm 3 curves rapidly away from the outer portion of the arm 2, as indicated at 6, the purpose being to provide ample space for the pressure head and the movable clamp member. The deflected portion 6 of the arm 3 terminates in a head 7 which is formed with a threaded opening to receive a set screw 8 by means of which the stretching of the shoe is effected. A pressure head 9 1s connected to the inner end of the said screw 8 by means ofa swivel joint so as to adapt itself to the direction of strain and equalize such strain upon all parts of the clamp and pressure head. The pressure head is of rounded form and of hollow construction, the space being provided with a socket in which is fitted a ball extension at the outer end of the said screw 8, the socket being contracted about the ball extension to retain the pressure head in place.

The clamp for gripping the part of the shoe to be stretched comprises the clamp member 5 which is fixed and the clamp member 10 which is movable and of ring form. The member 10 is provided at the outer end of a lever 11 which is pivoted at 12 to the arm 3 of frame 1 at the point where said arm is deflected to form the curved portion 6. The lever 11 is placed alongside of the arm 3 and its rear portion is curved to form a handle 13 which is adapted to cooperate with the handle 4 to enable a firm grip being obtained upon the device when in operation. The handles 4 and 13 are similarly formed and curved in opposite directions and are made rounding upon their outer sides to admit of a firm grip being obtained thereon so as to force the clamp member 10 toward the clamp member 5 with a pressure to firmly secure the material of the shoe when. placed in position between the members of the clamp, as indicated in Fig. 2. To prevent injury to delicate material, the gripping portion of the movable clamp member 10 is pro- IIO vided with yielding material 14 which preferably consists of rubber, the same being let into a groove formed in the side of the clamp member 10 facing the clamp member 5. When it is required to stretch the upper of a shoe at some particular point to obtain a fullness to prevent pressure upon a tender, sore or callous portion of the foot, the shoe is slipped upon the arm 2 of the frame so that a portion passes into the slot or opening and between the arms 2 and 3. The part to be stretched having been marked, is arranged to be gripped between the members of the clamp and is made secure by gripping the handles 4 and 13 and forcing the same together, after which the said screw 8 is turned to cause the pressure head 9 to pass through the clamp member 10 and stretch the required part of the shoe in the manner it ell understood. The rounded form of the pressure head causes unequal stretching of the shoe, whereby the central portion of the part gripped by the clamp is expanded to a greater extent than the outer portion, the stretching being gradual from the center of the space circumscribed thereby. It will thus be understood that the part of the shoe, only, directly opposite to the sore or tender spot of the foot, is stretched or expanded without disturbing or stretching the remaining portion of the shoe and giving thereto an untidy appearance; The degree of stretching may be governed by turning of the set screw so as to force the pressure head across the clamp to a greater or less extent.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A shoe stretcher comprising a frame having a receiving slot extended inward from one end to form companion arms, one of said arms being provided with a clamp member, and the other arm having its outer portion deflected away from said clamp member, a lever pivoted to the deflected arm and pro- .Vided with a clamp member to cooperate with the aforementioned clamp member, and a pressure head mounted upon the outer end of the deflected portion of the arm.

2. A shoe stretcher comprising a frame having a curved slot or opening extended inward from an end thereof to form arms, one of the arms having its outer portion deflected away from the other arm, a pressure head mounted upon the outer end of the deflected portion of the arm, a clamp member at the outer end of the arm opposite to the pressure head, and a lever pivoted to the deflected arm and provided with a clamp member cooperating with the aforesaid clamp member.

3. A shoe stretcher comprising a frame composed. of spaced. arms connected at one end and provided at the latter end with a handle, a clamp cooperating with one of the arms and comprising a fixed and a movable member, the latter having a handle corresponding to and cooperating with the handle of the frame, and. a pressure head mounted upon the other arm and adapted to cooperate with the clamp.

4. A shoe stretcher comprising a frame, having a slot or opening extended inward from an end thereof to form a receiving space and arms, a clamp member at the outer end of one of the arms, a lever pivoted to the other arm and provided at one end with a handle and at its opposite end with a clamp member cooperating with the clamp member of the arm, a pressure head mounted upon the outer end of the arm to which the said lever is pivoted, and a handle provided upon the outer end of the frame and adapted to coi'iperate with the handle of the said lever to admit of firmly gripping the devie and applying the clamp.

5. A shoe stretcher comprising a frame having spaced arms emmected at. one end aml provided with a handle, a clamp cooperating with one of the arms and comprising a [ixed and a movable clamp member, the latter having a handle, a set screw mounted in a threaded opening in the outer end of the arm opposite to that provided with the clamp, and a pressure head connected to the inner end of the said screw by means of a swivel joint.

6. The herein described shoe stretcher, comprising a frame having a longitudinally curved slot extended inward from an end thereof to form a receiving space and arms, said frame being provided at its closed end with a handle, a cup-shaped clamp member at the outer end of one of the arms, the op posite arm having its outer portion detlected and terminating in ahead in which is formed a threaded opening, a set screw mounted in said threaded opening, a pressure head of rounded form connected to the inner end of the set screw by means of a swivel joint, lever pivoted to the deflected arm and provided at one end with a handle and having a. clamp member of ring form at its opposite end to cooperate with. the cup-shaped clamp member.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses NILS A. LYBlCC/K. lVitnesses GEORGE Senmmn, FRANK Sonunnn. 

